Arsenals congestion fixture traffic
Come next Sunday Arsenal would’ve played three games in seven days, a hectic fixture schedule to say the least.
Arsenal kicked-started their heavy run of games yesterday when they defeated arch rivals Spurs 1-0 in the North London Derby. On Thursday they will commence their Champions League campaign away to Atalanta in Italy over 800 miles away, before returning to N5 to travel a further 198 miles to the Etihad to face Premier League table toppers Manchester City.
In total the Gunners will end up travelling over 2,000 miles in a single week, this is surely not fair on the players and managerial staff and will certainly take a toll on their well being to a certain extent.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has previously complained on a couple of occasions about the already congested fixture schedule which has increased this season.
After Arsenal beat Spurs yesterday Arteta commented on this topic again after being quizzed on his sides tight run of games this week.
Arteta is certainly not complaining this time round and said with vigour; ”it is what it is, we have to adapt to that, we’re going to be a top team, a very challenging team that is up there.”
UEFA hasn’t helped with this topic recently by changing and extending the number of Champions League group stage games for the campaign. Since Arsenal became accustomed to the competition for 19 years under former manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners have traditionally played six games in the group stage, but now it’s been increased to eight.
Do Arsenal really need this?
Excluding the two extra European matches to Arsenal’s season, by the end of it all they would’ve played at least 46 games, made up of 38 Premier League games, at least one FA Cup and League Cup match and six Champions League tossups.
On the other hand Manchester City, who Arsenal will be aiming to beat to pip them in the League on Sunday, face the same number of games in both Champions League and Premiership, having been handed an unfair advantage ahead of the title chasing clash.
City have been handed the luxury of playing three games in eight days with an extra day of rest in comparison to Arsenal without having to travel outside the realms of Manchester!
The run started on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Brentford, leading into Wednesday when they take on Inter Milan in the Champions League, four days before facing the North Londoner’s next Sunday who would’ve played on Thursday night hundreds of miles away!
This is something which the Premier League and UEFA need to work on together to find a solution to which will benefit the physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of players, managers and all those loyal diehard fans who go to every game of the season!
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I didn’t see the draw being made but could it have been the other way round with us at home mid week and MC away?
Don’t City play us on a Sunday then a league cup tie on a Tuesday while we play on the Wednesday?
So the League Cup not doing City favours ?
Arsenal should not be worried about the League Cup with the shortage of first team players.
Just play the youth team.
Nah need a trophy mate
I don’t particularly appreciate that they’ve put UCL matches on Thursday nights it gives seeded teams an advantage in their respective leagues
It’s swings and roundabouts, every top team will have similar occurrences at some stage during an already congested season. It is possible that some teams will play between 70-80 matches and player burnout and serious injuries becomes a distinct possibility. The powers that be don’t care, more money is the motive.
Stop moaning. It’s the way of modern football. Not a perfect situation but every big club has to deal with it at one time or another.
Is a 2 hour flight to Italy that big a problem? What are we really complaining about?
It’s not so much the flight time but the time at which players get back to Blighty afterwards. First it’s acclimatising to European time for the game and then it’s getting on a plane after midnight local time.
SueP, would probably be best for them to stay an extra night in Bergamo.
Old Bergamo was a charming place HD. Well, it was 30 odd years ago.
It’s was still a charming place 23 years ago SueP. Looking down from Alta Bergamo to Bassa Bergamo, amazing views.
I was at my brother in law’s wedding to an Italian. Finished it all off in Bellagio on lake Como HD. I’m determined to go back. Awesome
Glad it was still as pretty for you.
How do you see the tie going?
SueP, my then Sister in Law and her fella lived in Milan, and me and the then Mrs went over for a short break. Had a day in Bergamo, beautiful.
Think it’s going to be a very tough game on Thursday, they won’t be a push over.
No it won’t I agree. Particularly tricky in view of the City game
Yet they spent pre season travelling to America ?
Can’t be that tired
Wow, comparing pre-season friendly games to actual competitive games. Amazing 🙄
In your obsession with me you proved my point lol
Obsession 😂. You obviously don’t know what this 🙄 means 😂
C’mon Dan
It was pre season and what happens now is in the thick of it. Of course, each match at home or in Europe will throw up difficulties
Arsenal should not be worried about the League Cup with the shortage of first team players.
Just play the youth team.
Why should we play the youth team in a competition we have every design in winning?
That is a defeatist mindset that should be highly discouraged in a big club like Arsenal..
It just goes with the territory of wanting to be regarded among the “big boys”, doesn’t it? Isn’t there a saying that’s probably relevant here about “heat and kitchens”?
If Arsenal want to continue being regarded as one of the big boys of football, then they just need to get n with it.
The more games you win, the more games you’ll play. It’s that simple, if you don’t want to play that many games, get yourself knocked out. (Problem solved).
I don’t get the article. EVERY team has to fit in fixtures, who are in CL and EL. If you want to be successful, don’t look for excuses.
Reggie:
The title is not at all “making excuses” It is saying we should embrace the fact
No and we should not be looking for any either. All top teams play tight schedules. We are not alone in that.
Don’t really understand what there is to complain about.
We want to compete for trophies in 4 competitions, but then complain about the number of games.
Glad to be in CL, but complain about the travel and 3 games in 7 days.
We want to win PL, but complain about a tough schedule early on, and playing City away; 3rd game in 7 days.
This is all part of the work it takes to be a champion. Tough schedule, tough opponents, overcoming obstacles like injuries and fatigue.
Remember when we finished 8th, no European football? We would have happily traded that for a congested schedule and CL football.
So any other year you might play Wednesday – Saturday
This week you play Thursday – Sunday
Zero issue
I suppose, the bigger issue that relates to this game individually is. City are at home Wednesday and no travel. We are away in Italy Thursday and travel to Italy. City ae at home Sunday, no travel and we are away to them and travel. It is only a microcosm of the season and it all flips and flops, all season. But its something we have to live with, as do others at different times. You have to cope.
Plus the get more than 24 hours rest for the game than us. But again it is swings and roundabouts.